Sunday 25th April 2021 14.00 | Elland Road
Sunday sees the resumption of hostilities between the White Rose of Yorkshire and the Red Rose od Lancashire as Manchester United are the visitors to Elland Road. Leeds United will be aiming to go six matches unbeaten having already taken points off Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool in their last five games. The visitors are the in-form side in the Premier League, undefeated in their last twelve games, having won their last five. This won’t intimidate Marcelo Bielsa's side though, who are prepared to go toe to toe with anyone in the league and will look to make amends for their below pal performance earlier in the season at Old Trafford.
Captain Liam Cooper will serve the second of a three-match ban, so Pascal Struijk is again likely to partner Diego Llorente, whose late header earned Bielsa's men a share of the spoils against current League Champions Liverpool, at centre back. German International Robin Koch is fit, however Bielsa rarely changes a winning team. Right back Luke Ayling will wear the Captains armband. Rodrigo has not recovered from his 'muscle' injury so Tyler Roberts will deputise in the playmaker role once again. The Welsh International has been in fine form recently, and instrumental in Leeds recent run of results.
Unfortunately for Leeds, Raphinha has not trained again this week following the rather robust challenge by Fernandinho in the victory against City and is not fit to feature. Costa will start in his place with Poveda and Summerville providing options from the bench. The Reds have no new injury worries. Anthony Martial is side-lined having injured his knee on international duty. Eric Bailly, who has missed the last five matches after testing positive for Covid on international duty. Marcus Rashford has missed training as he continues to manage a recent foot injury but Solskjaer believes he could still feature.
Manchester United have earned five straight league victories for the first time since winning Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first six games in charge between December 2018 and January 2019. Leeds' last victory over Manchester United in the Premier League was 1-0 at home in September 2002. Diego Llorente's equaliser against Liverpool on Monday night was the 100th goal to be scored in a Leeds Premier League game this season. They have both scored and conceded 50. Stuart Dallas has scored against Manchester City and Manchester United this season. The last Leeds player to score in three separate matches against the Manchester clubs in one season was Peter Lorimer in 1971-72.
.....a 32ft Janneau Symphony. She is beautiful.....
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